Tonga rally to beat Canada

Canada crashed to a second consecutive Pacific Nations Cup defeat as Tonga came back from an early 15-3 deficit to win by a final score of 28-18. The loss will be desperately disappointing to the Canadian side, who looked in top form in the opening quarter, only to lose shape in the second half.

A furious opening saw Canada come out with all guns blazing, and Aaron Carpenter smashed his way over after a Jeff Hassler break nearly found the Tongan line. Gordon McRorie converted, and then struck a penalty goal eight minutes later. A Kurt Morath penalty put Tonga on the board but did little to diminish the red waves descending on the Tongan defense.

Some magic feet from Liam Underwood put the flyhalf in space, and though he nearly botched the two-on-one, Carpenter picked up the ball and raced over for his second. Replays showed the ball seemed to go forward, but the try was awarded and Canada were 12 points up with just over 20 minutes gone.

Tonga finally got their hands on the ball, and as they started to slow the game down, their brutal physicality started to have an effect. The officials somehow missed a clear punch by hooker Elvis Taione at a ruck – something the citing officers will no doubt revisit later – and then Underwood fell into the wrong position at the breakdown and was sent to the bin for killing the ball in the red zone.

Within a minute, Tane Takulua peeled off the back of a messy scrum to score a critical try just before the half, with Morath making it seven to bring Tonga into double digits. Canada were reeling but could not find their composure at the break.

Doug Wooldridge came on to try and bolster a creaking scrum but to no avail. Tonga got field position and just as Underwood returned to the field, they attacked blind, with Otulea Katoa stepping inside a flailing Hassler to score, with Morath’s kick giving them the lead for the first time.

Morath and McRorie exchanged shots, but the Tongan kicker was on song for the fifth time to make the lead five. Any further hopes were thoroughly deflated when Steve Mafi broke free from Carpenter on the post and fed Takulua on the inside to seal the deal.

Canada came agonizingly close to scoring a consolation try in the final moments after both Telusa Veainu and Sona Taumalolo were shown yellow, but were held up in the end zone to bring the final whistle.

The two sides now head east to Toronto for the third round of the competition, which takes place on Wednesday July 29. Tonga will face the US Eagles while Canada will have to try their luck against Samoa.

CANADA 18
Tries – A. Carpenter (2, 23)
Cons – G. McRorie (3)
Pens – G. McRorie (11, 54)
Yellow cards – L. Underwood (34)

TONGA 28
Tries – T. Takulua (35, 66), O. Katoa (44)
Cons – K. Morath (36, 45)
Pens – K. Morath (18, 52, 56)
Yellow cards – T. Veainu (78), S. Taumalolo (80)

CANADA
1 H. Buydens (D. Sears-Duru 70) 2 A. Carpenter (B. Pifféro 68) 3 A. Tiedemann (D. Wooldridge HT) 4 B. Beukeboom 5 J. Phelan (C. Morrison 63) 6 R. Thorpe 7 J. Moonlight (K. Gilmour 57) 8 T. Ardron (capt.) 9 G. McRorie (P. Mack 68) 10 L. Underwood 11 D. van der Merwe 12 C. Braid 13 C. Hearn (P. Mackenzie 8) 14 J. Hassler 15 M. Evans (N. Hirayama 70)

TONGA
1 T. Mailau (S. Taumalolo 54) 2 E. Taione (S. Sakalia 72) 3 H. Aulika (S. Puafisi 54) 4 S. Mafi 5 J. Tu’ineau 6 H. T-Pole 7 N. Latu (capt.) (U. Kolo’ofai 47) 8 V. Ma’afu (V. Fihaki 37) 9 T. Takulua 10 K. Morath (L. Fosita 77) 11 F. Vainikolo (O. Katoa 28) 12 V. Tahitu’a 13 S. Piukala 14 T. Veainu 15 V. Lilo

Not used: S. Ma’ake